I read this on drudgereport. One in ten doctors are commiting suicide in NYC alone. One doctor jumped out of his apartment and died. One doctor tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrists, but instead went to the ER for help. He switched professions and became a school teacher. He stated he did not go to medical school to learn how to operate a computer and punch numbers and letters.
My husband went to the his urologist yesterday and he waited one hour and a half. He went into the doctor's room ticked off. The woman doctor informed him that four doctors left the practice and they were in trouble.
Medical care in this country is in dire straits. Big Trouble. Dorothy
The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
Moderators: Rosie, JFR, xet, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
I agree with you 100 %. When Obamacare went into effect, it ushered in a whole new (and extremely time-consuming) set of computerized record-keeping and survey requirements. Doctors are fed up with it and they're bailing out. And as they bail out, the work load just gets bigger for the ones that choose to stick it out. So it just keeps getting worse and worse. And what does the government do to fix the problem? They do study after study, and ask more questions, to try to tweak a broken model that should have been thrown out years ago when it became obvious that it wasn't going to work.
My hat's off to the doctors who are willing to stick it out. They must be tough, and they've got the patience of Job.
Tex
My hat's off to the doctors who are willing to stick it out. They must be tough, and they've got the patience of Job.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
In addition to microcolitis, which currently is being treated with colestipol, I have a hernia in my LLQ area. (Spigelian?) Actually, I have had it for some time--as the first symptom of pain in that area occurred 2 days after my colonoscopy in Feb. 2017 that diagnosed the diarrhea that I had had for two years and self-medicated with Imodium. Did colonoscopy bring on hernia? MDs tell me that isn't likely as the hernia is in the muscle not the gut. So I tried gluten free diet for six months without changing anything, and Enterolabs said I had none of the 4 main allergies. The NP of the GI doc who did the colonoscopy told me to take 3 Pepto-Bismols three times a day for 6 weeks and I would be cured. WRONG! Two days after stopping PB, diarrhea returned. I was still also having pain, but this GI specialist didn't say anything about a hernia. Eventually it got so painful, and I could no longer stop it through pressure or a hot bath, I went to ER, where they diagnosed hernia and it was repaired by the GI resident. I still had diarrhea, but no gut pain. I changed GI MDs, she put me on six weeks of budesonide; then I had to stop that and take colestipol once a day.
Then, 3 months after the hernia repair, when I thought at least the pain was gone, it returned. CT scan showed hernia was still there. They also said I was constipated, and my new GI MD (a woman) said I should take Miralax! That was awful, I spent 24 hrs on floor of my bathroom only getting up to sit on the toilet and sometimes not making it even then. Now I am scheduled for a second repair a week from Monday. I am worried that I have been told not to take any drugs or supplements except for blood pressure meds the week before the outpatient surgery. I am going to talk to the surgeon on Monday to see what he expects me to do about my diarrhea. I can see that a lump of constipated stool in my gut would not be a good thing, but what is the answer? As far as I can tell, Imodium might be okay--I don't think it is as constipating as colestipol. I am supposed to arrive at hospital at 5:30 a.m. Without any medication I would be having liquid bowel movements in the early morning hours. Anyone else had problem like this?
Then, 3 months after the hernia repair, when I thought at least the pain was gone, it returned. CT scan showed hernia was still there. They also said I was constipated, and my new GI MD (a woman) said I should take Miralax! That was awful, I spent 24 hrs on floor of my bathroom only getting up to sit on the toilet and sometimes not making it even then. Now I am scheduled for a second repair a week from Monday. I am worried that I have been told not to take any drugs or supplements except for blood pressure meds the week before the outpatient surgery. I am going to talk to the surgeon on Monday to see what he expects me to do about my diarrhea. I can see that a lump of constipated stool in my gut would not be a good thing, but what is the answer? As far as I can tell, Imodium might be okay--I don't think it is as constipating as colestipol. I am supposed to arrive at hospital at 5:30 a.m. Without any medication I would be having liquid bowel movements in the early morning hours. Anyone else had problem like this?
Re: The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
Hi,
Here are my thoughts. If the Colestipol is giving you good control, I'm not sure that it would absolutely have to be eliminated before the surgery. But those rules are the surgeon's choice, so they have to be honored. If the Colestipol is causing constipation, that problem could probably be eliminated by reducing your dose. Effectiveness and symptoms of treatments with Bile acid sequestrants, such as colestipol, seem to be very dependent on fine-tuning the dose. Too little is not effective, and too much causes constipation or cramps.
I don't claim to be an expert on constipation, by any means, but my lifelong constipation appears to have been due to a chronic magnesium deficiency. Other than that, few things seem to work better than MiraLAX for relieving constipation. And I agree with you that Imodium is usually not as constipating as colestipol, as long as you don't take too many of the Imodium tablets. Realistically, if blood pressure medications can get a free pass from your surgeon, then a medication with a safe track record such as Imodium, should be allowed, also. But again, that's your surgeon's call. if he's not concerned about uncontrolled diarrhea in a patient, then either he has had very little experience with MC patients, or he's willing to put up with anything.
I recall that when I was first going through all the diagnostic tests at the clinic, one of the tests I was scheduled for was an x-ray of my small intestine, after drinking a large container of barium solution. I warned the technicians before the procedure that drinking all that stuff was probably going to give me uncontrollable diarrhea, and I was nauseated as the dickens to boot, and might vomit at any time. It didn't seem to faze them. They just said, "Hey, we're used to that — don't let it bother you because it won't bother us." Fortunately, I lucked out and didn't have any "accidents", by some miracle.
Tex
Here are my thoughts. If the Colestipol is giving you good control, I'm not sure that it would absolutely have to be eliminated before the surgery. But those rules are the surgeon's choice, so they have to be honored. If the Colestipol is causing constipation, that problem could probably be eliminated by reducing your dose. Effectiveness and symptoms of treatments with Bile acid sequestrants, such as colestipol, seem to be very dependent on fine-tuning the dose. Too little is not effective, and too much causes constipation or cramps.
I don't claim to be an expert on constipation, by any means, but my lifelong constipation appears to have been due to a chronic magnesium deficiency. Other than that, few things seem to work better than MiraLAX for relieving constipation. And I agree with you that Imodium is usually not as constipating as colestipol, as long as you don't take too many of the Imodium tablets. Realistically, if blood pressure medications can get a free pass from your surgeon, then a medication with a safe track record such as Imodium, should be allowed, also. But again, that's your surgeon's call. if he's not concerned about uncontrolled diarrhea in a patient, then either he has had very little experience with MC patients, or he's willing to put up with anything.
I recall that when I was first going through all the diagnostic tests at the clinic, one of the tests I was scheduled for was an x-ray of my small intestine, after drinking a large container of barium solution. I warned the technicians before the procedure that drinking all that stuff was probably going to give me uncontrollable diarrhea, and I was nauseated as the dickens to boot, and might vomit at any time. It didn't seem to faze them. They just said, "Hey, we're used to that — don't let it bother you because it won't bother us." Fortunately, I lucked out and didn't have any "accidents", by some miracle.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
Hi Tex
I am now 2 weeks post hernia repair and still need medication and suppositories for b.m. This, after 5 years of MC when I was never constipated except perhaps from too much colestipol or loperamide before my scans so that I wouldn't have an accident in the scanner. In addition, I had liquid diarrhea about three days before the hernia repair and sent stool specimen that got a diagnosis of Norovirus! I didn't know that until the day after the hernia surgery, but I have been extremely constipated since the surgery and have to take meds every day for constipation--so I think virus is gone. My GI doctor says that microcolitis is not an IBD. I had already changed to her when my previous GI MD didn't recognize that I had a hernia...or give me anything to do about the MC except pepto bismol for 6 weeks, which didn't cure me as he promised. Anyway, I sent my second GI doc the definitions of MC from NIH and Cleveland Clinic stating that microcolitis is an IBD. I see surgeon again on Tuesday so I will ask him about my diarrhea switching to constipation, although surgery is his bag. If I have to have one or the other, I would prefer that it be constipation I suppose. I am a retired microbiologist and would like an explanation! I guess I will just have to "listen to my body" as they say, and apply appropriate meds to the situation of the day. I realize that my problems are minor compared with many of the people on this forum.
I am now 2 weeks post hernia repair and still need medication and suppositories for b.m. This, after 5 years of MC when I was never constipated except perhaps from too much colestipol or loperamide before my scans so that I wouldn't have an accident in the scanner. In addition, I had liquid diarrhea about three days before the hernia repair and sent stool specimen that got a diagnosis of Norovirus! I didn't know that until the day after the hernia surgery, but I have been extremely constipated since the surgery and have to take meds every day for constipation--so I think virus is gone. My GI doctor says that microcolitis is not an IBD. I had already changed to her when my previous GI MD didn't recognize that I had a hernia...or give me anything to do about the MC except pepto bismol for 6 weeks, which didn't cure me as he promised. Anyway, I sent my second GI doc the definitions of MC from NIH and Cleveland Clinic stating that microcolitis is an IBD. I see surgeon again on Tuesday so I will ask him about my diarrhea switching to constipation, although surgery is his bag. If I have to have one or the other, I would prefer that it be constipation I suppose. I am a retired microbiologist and would like an explanation! I guess I will just have to "listen to my body" as they say, and apply appropriate meds to the situation of the day. I realize that my problems are minor compared with many of the people on this forum.
Re: The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
Your situation is unusual, to say the least. You know, one of the most common causes of constipation is a chronic magnesium deficiency. That applied to me for most of my life, apparently. I only discovered that I was magnesium deficient in the last five or six years, when it became critically (dangerously) low. Doctors never detect magnesium deficiency, so it's virtually never discovered. Statistics show that at least 70% of the general population is magnesium deficient. The serum blood test that doctors use to check a patient's magnesium level is virtually worthless except in an emergency room situation. That's where I discovered my magnesium deficiency. Interestingly enough the doctors there totally ignored the fact that that my magnesium level was flagged on the lab results. They assured me my blood test results were fine and sent me home. Fortunately I checked my results online the next day, and I was able to resolve my symptoms within a day.
One of the problems with constipation is that it will usually cause diverticulosis, in the long term.
Tex
One of the problems with constipation is that it will usually cause diverticulosis, in the long term.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
I feel the need to share my experience of getting diagnosed as very upsetting. First I feel my Family PA and GI PA were disinteresting to say the least. After calling the office several times I was first sent for a covid test, saw the PA then sent off to get fasting lab at a later date, sent to the pharmacy to get potassium, sent in to pick up spec containers, went home to fill the containers then out again to take containers to the lab. The GI PA had me go in for more lab and sched a colonoscopy. After the colonoscopy I had to call for results and told nothing but Lymphocytic Colitis pick up Budesonide. This all took 6 weeks, and much discomfort for me as I was having explosive diarrhea and difficuly controlling it.
Glad to find this site and find information along with support.
Glad to find this site and find information along with support.
Re: The Reality Of Dealing With Doctors
Hi,
Welcome to the group. Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree, the fact that we have such severe and debilitating symptoms doesn't seem to even show up on most doctor's radar. They consider this to be a "nuisance disease", rather than a life-changing syndrome.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree, the fact that we have such severe and debilitating symptoms doesn't seem to even show up on most doctor's radar. They consider this to be a "nuisance disease", rather than a life-changing syndrome.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.